Egypt sees 20% rise in tourists this year despite violence

CAIRO - Egypt projects a rise of about 20 percent in tourist numbers this year, the tourism minister said on Wednesday, despite outbreaks of violence after last year's Arab Spring.

The uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak last February and political instability since then have stopped millions of potential visitors to Egypt's beach resorts and ancient sites.

Tourism accounted for more than a tenth of Egypt's gross domestic product before the 18-day revolt that was driven by widespread anger at poverty and high-levels of corruption. The country's large cities are still prey to unrest.